As artificial intelligence becomes more deeply embedded in the U.S. economy, Sen. Mark Warner is seeking new guardrails for AI agents — autonomous digital tools capable of carrying out tasks for users, from booking travel to shopping online.
The Virginia Democrat is backing a first-of-its-kind discussion draft of the bill, titled the Artificial Intelligence Access, Gatekeeper Exchange and Nondiscriminatory Transfer Act, or AI Agent Act. The proposal lays out privacy and security requirements Warner says are needed to protect consumers and businesses from emerging risks tied to the use of AI systems.
“As agentic AI transforms how Americans interact with technology, consumers deserve a real choice in the marketplace – and AI agents must be accountable to the people they serve,” Warner said in a statement Monday. “This discussion draft is a major step toward building a clear federal framework that promotes innovation, protects consumers and ensures the United States continues to lead the world in emerging technology.”
The proposed AI Agent Act would define rights and obligations for AI agents that interact with major online platforms, while requiring those tools to operate in the best interests of their users. It would also establish a Federal Trade Commission registry for trusted AI agents, aimed at helping consumers avoid turning over sensitive information to bots that may not properly safeguard it.
“An AI agent that has access to a user’s most sensitive data and access rights – including email, e-commerce accounts and credit cards – must behave in fiduciary-like manner to protect users,” a draft summary of the proposal says.
Under the measure, AI agents would be required to protect user privacy and any information they collect, operate “in a user’s best interest,” and help shield businesses from abuse or exploitation by unauthorized AI agents.
Warner said he is circulating the draft legislation to gather input from industry stakeholders, consumer advocates and the public before formally introducing the bill.
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The debate comes as AI-powered shopping assistants are expected to play a growing role in online retail. Morgan Stanley has estimated that such tools could influence as much as $385 billion in U.S. e-commerce sales by 2030.
Alain Sherter
